Yesterday, after a quite extraordinary crystal bowl “meditation”, a student asked if I ever just sit in stillness. It was a great question following back to back sound healing work.
The tools that I use are just that: Tools. They are never to be mistaken for the goal, the end, or even the path itself. They are simply helpers along the way. Our crystal friends come from deep inside the earth to offer us their medicine. Our resident resonant tools offer vibrational healing, clearing and deep visioning. But this medicine is not “what its all about”. What its “all about” IS stillness. The greatest sound for healing IS silence. If we mistake the tools for the goal, we have become lost along the way.
And sometimes, thats ok too. Life’s diversions, like the fluctuations of the mind itself, are simply what they are. Perhaps the path forward is clear, straight, efficient. Perhaps it instead sends us on all sorts of detours, road blocks and obstacles. Usually, its a bit of both. Remember though, to gently come back to the path as soon as you notice you have become lost in a distraction. We practice this in meditation to imprint that reflex in our whole life.
The key is to slowly, carefully and attentively become increasingly discerning. So that, over practice and time, you learn to see clearly what is a diversion and what is, in that moment, a tool to move you forward. Everything and anything can be either one of these: distraction or valuable tool, depending on the timing and who you are, whats happening and where you are. An authentic guide understands this and can offer tools as needed all while nudging you gently forward, encouraging a healthy detachment from any “tool” itself.
The question naturally arises: what is the intention for your practice? One intention of meditation & yoga as a path for example, is to bring you to a state of “thoughtless awareness”, an expansive mind in union with a clear body that allows you a perspective not based on biases, belief systems, judgement, analysis or expectations.
We become the still pond. We are the clear blue sky.
Along the way we receive gifts, insights, benefits. Sometimes the practice is joyful, fun and exciting: the gifts feel like blessings. Sometimes the practice is difficult, challenging and painful: the gifts can feel like a curse. All of it is inspiring, creative and essential, coming from the same loving source. All of it brings us into greater balance and understanding so that we may hear the silence and be with the stillness.
Balance. Stillness. Silence.
These are words I don’t use lightly. I carry the depth of their authenticity deep within my understanding.
But balance, stillness & silence are ultimately still just tools.
so, what its all about, anyway?
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